Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
2 p.m. — Capital1 vs PLDT
4 p.m. — Akari vs Petro Gazz
6 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Chery Tiggo
PLDT faces a team that just scored a breakthrough victory when action in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino conference relocates to the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Saturday after a two-week foray at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
There will be three games on tap starting with the 2 p.m. collision between PLDT and Capital1, a team that is coming off a big win over fellow newcomer Strong Group Athletics.
Other games on schedule include the 4 p.m. duel between Akari and Petro Gazz and the 6 p.m. encounter featuring Farm Fresh and Chery Tiggo.
PLDT, Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo are locked in a tight battle for the fourth spot, trying to keep in step with each other.
Chery Tiggo, its 2-0 romp halted by a 3-1 defeat to Choco Mucho last weekend, looks to bounce back against Farm Fresh.
Reeling from a crushing shutout loss to the Angels that snapped their 2-0 start, the High Speed Hitters try to regain momentum against the Solar Spikers, who scored a landmark win over the Strong Group Athletics last Tuesday.
Coach Rald Ricafort is expected to leverage the team’s bench depth against the Solar Spikers.
PLDT’s experienced players, including Savi Davison and fellow spikers Erika Santos, Jules Samonte and Fiola Ceballos and middles Majoy Baron and Jessey de Leon, aim to dominate their counterparts and nail a crucial victory and put the upset-conscious Captal1 in its right place.
Capital1 coach Roger Gorayeb, however, is ready to spring surprises while hoping to draw the best from veterans Jorelle Singh, Arriane Layug, Patty Orendain and Heather Guino-o and emerging talents Janeca Lana, Cathrina Dizon and Shyra Umandal.
Akari, meanwhile, presents a challenge to the formidable Angels.
Coming off a shutout win over the Foxies, the Chargers seek another win behind new additions Grethcel Soltones and Ced Domingo, who have quickly integrated into the team’s system, combining for 25 points in their last match.
But Petro Gazz showed its potential against PLDT as Brooke Van Sickle exploded for 23 points and Jonah Sabete and Remy Palma backed her up with 13 and nine points, respectively.
The Crossovers, on the other hand, are considered the slight favorites against the Foxies.
Despite their defeat to the Flying Titans, the 2021 Open Conference champions try to assert their dominance with a roster featuring Mylene Paat, Ara Galang, Aby Maraño, Cza Carandang, Shaya Adorador, Cess Robles, Pauline Gaston and the Laure sisters, Eya and EJ.
